Spinach Body Count – and Costs

Friday the FDA and CDC outbreak numbers will come out – it should be: 204 confirmed illnesses, 31 HUS, 3 deaths. I do expect the FDA and CDC to count the Maryland death case shortly as well. The vast majority of our nearly 100 clients have identified DOLE as the primary source of the E. coli-contaminated spinach.
According to KSBWChannel.com – E. coli cases may cost Earthbound, Dole many millions:

Earthbound Farm and Dole may have to pay as much as $110 million to settle cases arising from recent E. coli contamination in spinach, a Seattle attorney representing 97 of the victims said. However, attorney Bill Marler said it will likely be at least a year before any settlement is reached. Marler said it will take at least that much time to see the full effects of the illnesses.